Raw compressed air is laden with contaminants, including particles, water, and oil, which can exist in various states—liquid or gaseous—within the system. These impurities never occur in isolation but form a complex mixture, the composition of which fluctuates throughout the system. For instance, water may accumulate in branch lines, while particles can amass in stagnant areas and later dislodge during pressure surges.

Every cubic meter of compressed air harbors millions of particles, along with substantial amounts of water, oil, and even heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury. Failure to filter out these pollutants jeopardizes the sustained performance of system components and severely compromises product quality. Thus, meticulous preparation of compressed air is essential to mitigate machine failures, minimize downtime, and ensure both process and product reliability.

Clean Air Requirements

Compressed air must consistently meet cleanliness standards to prevent any operational disruptions or equipment damage. However, considering that each filtration step introduces flow resistance, it’s economically prudent to ensure compressed air cleanliness only to the extent necessary for its intended use. The diverse applications of compressed air necessitate varying levels of air quality, with higher quality air demanding multiple filtration stages.

ISO 8573 sets forth the cleanliness requirements for compressed air, delineating maximum allowable levels of solid particles, water, and oil content. Compliance with this standard has been obligatory for pneumatic automation since 2010, underscoring the importance of adhering to specific parameters for achieving energy-efficient compressed air preparation while meeting regulatory standards. Festo air preparation units and filters guarantee trouble-free function. You can find out which standard your application must comply with in our brochure “Reliable processes thanks to perfect compressed air preparation.”